NEVER FORGOTTEN.

PART THE SECOND.
CHAPTER XXV. THE CLOVEN FOOT.

At Lady Laura's entertainment was seen Mr.
Romaine and the blancmange-faced new Mrs.
Massinger. There were others, too, of good
quality; for young Spendlesham had said that he did
not like being "put down" with all sorts of low
people. He had his dance, and his many dances,
with other young ladies besides Blanche; but he
used to come up with his handkerchief to his face,
saying, "Well, this is wonderful fun!" Before
the night was over he was beside "Lady Lau,"
pouring into her ear details of a new scheme.

"I say, we must indeed. These things are so
easy to get up, and you can hire dresses and
properties." The youth was alluding to the
entertainment known as Tableaux Vivans. "How we
used to get them up at Spendlands! I was
Cardinal Wolsey. I could get the dress again, I
know."

The veteran's heart sank within her at the
costly nature of this species of show, and some
faint protest escaped her, something about the
"smallness of their house." The youth, sensitive
and selfish, laughed this off pleasantly. "Small!
Not a bit of it," he said; "we shall squeeze them
all in. It will be splendid. Leave it to me."
Lady Laura, who felt that this, indeed, if laid on,
would be the last straw upon the sadly worn
and strained camel's back, in these desperate
straits thought of a dismal ruse.  She was looking
round mysteriously, and putting her face
close to Young Spendlesham's with marvellous
significance. "It would be charming," she said;
"such a treat for the girls! But you know old
Lady Bowler, next door, you understand, she
would let loose her whole conventicle on the poor
children, and then, you know, she is dreadful, my
dear.  Lord, you don't know how she embitters
our life."

This social exhumation of Lady Bowler had its
effect, and silenced the youth. But he was sullen
and aggrieved. "Very well," he said; "just as
you like. It makes no matter, none in the world.
The Chillingworths said something to me about
it yesterday, and they have such a 'jolly room.'"

Lady Laura had still her smile "on;" but it
was a sickly smile. At this moment came up
Blanche, with an officer in custody. The bright
young creature, full of natural warmth and
animation, was eager for news.

"You have settled it all," she said, enlarging
the officer, " I see you have. Isn't it delightful,
mamma? Lord Spendlesham says I am to be
Pomona, and be all over gold apples."

The youth's hands found their way gloomily
to the depths of his pockets. "O, no! No,
no!" he said, "it's all given up; that is, at your
house; and there's some tract woman or Methodist
that won't have it. But it makes no matter.
I shall get it up at the Chillingworths'."

The look of reproach and silent agony that
the dutiful child flung at her mother, would be
hard to describe. " It is all a mistake," she said.
"Nonsense. Mamma doesn't mean it."

Lady Laura saw by this time that delay
would be fatal; so she bent down her poor
overloaded worn bleeding camel's hump, and took up
this last burden with assumed cheerfulness.

The whole was settled that night. Young
Spendlesham laid out reckless schemes of
expense. He enlisted arbitrarily a whole corps
before the night was over. "I tell you who I
have made up my mind to have; that little Mrs.
Fermor."

"Charles's wife?" cried Blanche, faintly.

"Do you know, I like Charles's wife," said
the young lord, pleasantly. "There is
something so smart and quick about her. I am sure
she is good fun. Yes, we shall have Charles's
wife, but not Charles himself. There's Romaine.
I must speak to him."

Fermor—the poor pariah of the party, the
interdicted from the fire and water of conversation
—kept at the door. He had now grown sensitive,
scorning to intrude himself or his gifts upon
mammas with absently roving eyes and business-
like daughters.

Standing in this mood, he saw Hanbury come
up the stairs—the new and changed Hanbury,
with his curious mournful manner. He seemed
to bring with him all the old Eastport associations,
and Fermor walked hastily away. "He
will be coming to me," he thought, "and playing
off his new Werner character. He means all the
women to be pointing to him, and wanting to
know the story of his blighted heart. I wish to
Heaven I was out of this place, and out of the
whole concern!"